Tag Archives: Anxiety

The Trauma of Human Tranquility

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I have heard so many say that they just wish all this drama would go away.  What they usually mean is the turmoil between people.  And they’ve even made cutesy names for those who can’t seem to be at peace; names such as “Drama Queen”.

I will thoroughly agree that it would be good if the trivial anxieties were put a side for what is real and true.  But I have to differ with the majority of the populace who look for peace and tranquility in this place.

Think of all the money that is spent trying to find peace and tranquility.  Think of all the productivity that is lost because men try to escape the reality of life.

Their brother did “this”.  Their sister did “such”.  Their enemy pursues them, and they’ll tell you about it.  Men talk behind their back, but don’t they do it too?

The rich go on vacations, and buy expensive toys.  The poor get drunk or turn to drugs, or violence or more. 

So the rich are known as righteous, because they afford all the things the others cannot afford.  See how division grows like mold.

Why then do men strive so hard to find tranquility and peace?  Every day and night the rich and the poor are pestered by a drama they choose to ignore.  If they thought they had trouble in this place, they are destined to encounter more.

The Holy Spirit of the Living God calls out to the minds of men.  “Come gain eternal wisdom, and leave these things behind.  Come worship the living God in Christ.  In there, is peace for your mind.”

But in our worship of the Living God, another drama appears.  Our sins go with us, and we find ourselves full of holy fear.  Isn’t this where men turn back, refusing to come near.

Return then, to the drama of your flesh.  Spend all your time and money trying to cover it up.  You will die in drama, and then face the living God.  You will drink from that bitter cup.

There is peace to be had, but its mixed with fear.  For He’s Holy, and Holy, and Holy!  No sin can be brought near.  How then can peace be upon us, when we hold what we call dear?

You fight a losing battle, all of you make your own peace.  There is only one place to find what you seek.  All men will be salted with fire, whether or not they come for release.

His name is Christ Jesus, the Holy Son of God.

By His Grace

Carrying His Cross

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I would live alone in a cave, deep in the woods.  That would be my choice were this world the end of my life.  For anxiety fills me when I am near my brothers of flesh. 

I am not anxious because I am afraid.  I become anxious because they are anxious.  Questions do not pester them.  And answers, not requested, elude them.  I become anxious, for the living God within me demands testimony.

So if given my choice, I would remove myself from them.  But their anxiety leaves me no choice. 

The very things that God has shown me, force me to desire to stay.  And this desire is stronger than my own. 

In this, those I meet are neither righteous nor wicked.  They have simply appeared beside me along my way.  And I will speak.

The message of God within me is a thriving holy crop.  And I will gladly offer a bounty to the hungry stranger.  I must refuse to eat alone.

I toil in the garden all day long, sweating neath the Blazing Sun of his  Righteousness.  Weeding my garden with the tools of judgement, restraint, and mercy.  Forgiveness carries the living water.  And his crop grows taller everyday.

I will not go seek the place of peace in this world; the peace as my flesh defines it.  For the Holy Lord of Life has set me in a place.  His love calls sweetly, and I will obey.

What is it to me that anxiousness should fill my heart?  It has replaced terror and confusion.  I will not return. It will not leave though I swat at it as flies. 

Embrace it I must.  Embrace it I will.  Shall I throw down my cross seek peace?  NEVER!

Panic Polly

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Who was Polly that they should associate her name with such a horrible condition?  She certainly must have been one nervous individual.  I doubt you would have had trouble pointing her out in a crowd.

Are you one of those who worry about everything all the time?  Can you name one miracle that you have brought about by worrying?  Likely not.

More than likely, the only thing your worry has established is some sort of illness; fibromyalgia, ulcers, nerve bumps, hair loss, constant anger, some kind of drug addiction, and the like.

You learned to ride a bicycle; sometime after you had learned to walk, of course.  You learn to read, or you wouldn’t have a clue what I’m saying.  Overtime you built a fair vocabulary.  You learned some social graces (Even if the only place they are acceptable is some sleazy bar.)

If you learned all that, then you can learn to stop worrying.  Especially if you begin to believe the gospel of Jesus, the Holy Son of God.

The gospel is important to everyone, for it is the key to eternal life.  But not just so we can float on a cloud in play a harp.  The gospel is important for the sake of righteous living, in eternity and now.

By the gospel my conscience is clean.  Not that I am without sin.  But his forgiveness is real enough to make a drastic difference in those who believe; they experience a peace they can’t define, they’re not easily rattled by danger, and they usually sleep pretty good.

By the gospel I am taught.  Not only do I learn what God expects, but the Holy Spirit reminds me moment by moment.  By this I have an opportunity to do what is right all day long.

By the gospel I am told that God will take care of me.  So as I find myself able to believe, I find worry and anxiety dissipate rather quickly.  It is impossible for God to lie.  And he sealed his promise with his Son’s Holy Blood.  I’m thinking I’m standing on pretty firm ground when I believe he’ll take care of me.

And most importantly, by the gospel I know I will have confidence before the Holy One when I leave this place.  Now some folks might not put that together.  So for the sake of the few I will explain.

If you wear anxiety like a warm coat in the winter now, what do you think you will do when you stand before his blazing glory without the confidence of faith?   How will you believe your sins are forgiven?  How will you be sure your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Believe in the gospel and you will find yourself living at peace.  Choose to remain in disbelief, and you choose to live with in the negative consequences of anxiety.  And by that you are threatened to bare those consequences for eternity.

I do hope this has been helpful to at least one if not a few.

P.S.
The word “efficacy” is often used in medicine.  By that word doctors, define the power of a medicine or procedure to do what it’s supposed to do.  I tell you that the efficacy of Christ Jesus and His gospel are perfectly powerful.

Is, Was, Will Be

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When I wrote these words they were my “now”.  When you read these words they appeared before you in your “now”.   But as each word “was” written or read, it is no longer “now”.  Each word became what was.  That sounds like gibberish.  But it speaks of something vastly important. 

We may remember but we cannot re-live.  It is only give unto man that he may live in what is.  Why then do we all struggle so hard to live in what was?  And how do we know that our memory is clear?  How do we know that we remember with fullness of understanding?

Who can change what has been done?  We may do again so that we may rectify what we found wrong.  But that does not change what has been done.  It only “does” again.

The past and the future are equally beyond our grasp.  In our memories we are helpless.  And the future looms as darkness.  Man is utterly helpless.

God in His wisdom created time; moments of “IS” come and go relentlessly.  Like a singular spike in an eternal line of doing.  Who has ears to hear this?  Who is willing to understand?

If a man has peace in what was it is because God has had mercy and forgiven.  If a man is not afraid of what is coming it is because he trusts the promise of the Holy One.

Anxiety lives just behind us and just in front.  But true peace is found in what is.  As long as we strive to live in what we remember we will face anxiety.  As long as we brace ourselves for what comes next anxiety dresses us as a garment.  But peace is found in faith alone.

The name of the sovereign God is “I am that I am”.  He alone owns what was.  And He does with it what pleases Him.  He alone owns what will be.  And He alone does what pleases Him to do.  Why then do his people live looking backward or straining forward?

Since we cannot change what was, we are forced to either live in anxiety or receive His peace.  And since we cannot know what comes we are forced either to live in anxiety or to receive His peace.  Both require faith.

God is.  Therefore if we follow him we must also live in what is.  To do otherwise only brings doubt.  And if that is the case he is right to refer to us as “ye of little faith”.

Leave what was in the hands of he who is.  Likewise leave what will be in the hands of he who is.  Strive only to do in faith.  In this you will find immeasurable peace.  In this you will come to understand that his burden upon you is light indeed.

Who can decipher the deeds he has done according to what is true?  And who has known the mind of God that he is sure of what will happen next?  If we are that tiny then why do we not believe?

God alone gives true understanding of these things.  Philosophers and poets have given their whole life to understand these things and to write them.  But those who are in Christ Jesus find themselves living them effortlessly.

Let the world work with their hands to provide what will be.  Their folly is evident.  Let the world build their filthy temple on the foundation of what was.  They build on nothing.  But let God’s people understand.  We do not build at all.  We trust in the Sovereign Lord.  His name is Christ Jesus.

Beautiful agony

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Agony (Garden)

Image by Cajie via Flickr

I am caught up, and that for the rest of my life, in such a beautiful anxiety; an agony of love.  Every person I meet is a possible brother or sister of mine.  Oh how I yearn to see Christ in them!  And this anxiety presents itself in a distinct peace.  For I know that this desire, when fanned into flame, will produce the love necessary to accomplish His Will.

Father, I rest in You.  Through the power of Your Holy Son I rest in You.  Even in this anxiety so tender and sweet, I rest in You.  May Your will be done forever!  Amen.

 

By His Grace.

The Lovely Anxiety

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The Christian Cross.

Image via Wikipedia

The Gospel of Christ is so wonderfully beautiful.  Even the rebuke of God becomes a lovely thing for the Christian.  For we know that He corrects and disciplines those He loves.  To walk with Him toward His desire for all His people is to breathe The True Air of Life.  And yet.

The desire to share this love for Him consumes His people.  Why wouldn’t you want to share the absolute best life has to offer?  And when we see others struggle between the knowledge of good and bad, the anxiety sets in.  We’re not anxious because we fear Him.  We’re anxious because we see them hear our words with no understanding at all.  It’s like we speak an entirely different language.  I can speak about a duck.  But that’s not what they hear.  I can call white what it is, but they seem to get confused.  And so I feel anxious to share what they can’t possibly understand without His help.

I love this anxiety, however.  It’s a yearning within me to share.  And I love that yearning.  Though it causes pain, it’s a pain worthy of carrying.  And, who knows, perhaps one or two will be enabled to understand.  So I run the race as He allows.  For it is God alone who produces the fruit of understanding.

 

By His Grace.